Timepiece indexing element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11774911-B2
Application number	US-202016896485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2020
Priority date	Aug 8, 2019
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A timepiece indexing element cooperating coaxially with a component including an indexing relief element defining indexing positions, including a first bearing surface cooperating in abutment with the component, elastic return device exerting a radial thrust on this component to press it onto this first bearing surface, and indexing device cooperating with the indexing relief element, these elastic return devices include at least a first elastic arm including a first indexing surface comprised in this indexing device and arranged to exert a radial thrust force on the component and, at least a second elastic arm arranged to exert a radial thrust force on the first elastic arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A timepiece indexing element, arranged to cooperate in a substantially coaxial manner, about an axis about which said indexing element extends, with a timepiece component comprising an indexing relief element defining a plurality of indexing positions, said indexing element comprising a first bearing surface arranged to cooperate in abutment with a second complementary bearing surface comprised in said component, and comprising elastic return means arranged to exert a substantially radial thrust force, with respect to said axis, on said component, to press said component onto said first bearing surface, and comprising indexing means arranged to cooperate with said indexing relief element of said component for relative indexing between said indexing element and said component, wherein said elastic return means comprise at least a first elastic arm comprising a first indexing surface comprised in said indexing means and which is arranged to exert a substantially radial thrust force with respect to said axis on said component, and at least a second elastic arm arranged to exert a substantially radial thrust force with respect to said axis on said at least one first elastic arm.

2. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein, in a pair formed by said first elastic arm and said second elastic arm, said second elastic arm is arranged to exert a higher return torque than the return torque of said first elastic arm.

3. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein, in a pair formed by said first elastic arm and said second elastic arm, said first elastic arm is arranged to travel, in its bending stroke, a greater radial extension than that of said second elastic arm.

4. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element comprises a plurality of pairs, each formed by one said first elastic arm and one said second elastic arm, and each arranged to exert on said component a substantially diametrically opposite force, with respect to said axis, to said first bearing surface.

5. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said second elastic arm comprises a lug arranged to cooperate with a notch comprised in said first elastic arm with which said second elastic arm cooperates, to lock said first elastic arm in the indexing position.

6. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element comprises at least one locking element arranged to lock said second elastic arm in abutment on said first elastic arm with which said second elastic arm cooperates.

7. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element comprises at least one boss, diametrically opposite, with respect to axis, to said first bearing surface, to form an anti-shock stop member limiting the relative radial movement, in case of shock, between said indexing element and said component assembled to one another in an indexed position.

8. The indexing element according to claim 7 , wherein said indexing element comprises an inner chamber, delimited by said bearing surface and each said first elastic arm, arranged to surround said indexing relief element of said component, and wherein each said first elastic arm is closer to said axis than each said second elastic arm.

9. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element is arranged to be inserted into an external chamber delimited by said indexing relief element of said component, and wherein each said first elastic arm is further away from said axis than each said second elastic arm.

10. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element is a wheel set arranged to pivot about said axis and about said component with which said wheel set cooperates.

11. The indexing element according to claim 10 , wherein said indexing element comprises drive means.

12. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element is arranged to be secured in a fixed angular position on a structure of a timepiece movement or mechanism.

13. The indexing element according to claim 1 , wherein said indexing element is made of nickel-phosphorus NiP.

14. A timepiece assembly comprising said at least one indexing element according to claim 1 , and said at least one timepiece component comprising said indexing relief element defining said plurality of indexing positions, said at least one indexing element and said at least one component being arranged to cooperate with one another in a substantially coaxial manner, about said axis, for the relative indexing of one with respect to the other, with said first bearing surface arranged to cooperate in abutment with said second complementary bearing surface comprised in said at least one component, and said indexing means arranged to cooperate with said indexing relief element of said component for relative indexing between said indexing element and said component.

15. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said indexing element comprises an inner chamber, delimited by said bearing surface and each said first elastic arm, arranged to surround said indexing relief element of said component, and wherein each said first elastic arm is closer to said axis than each said second elastic arm.

16. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said indexing element is arranged to be inserted into an external chamber delimited by said indexing relief element of said component, and wherein each said first elastic arm is further away from said axis than each said second elastic arm.

17. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said timepiece assembly comprises only one said indexing element and only one said component.

18. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said component is a wheel set.

19. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said component is arranged to be secured in a fixed angular position on a structure of a timepiece movement or mechanism.

20. The timepiece assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said indexing element and said indexing relief element of the component are both delimited by the same upper plane and the same lower plane, perpendicular to said axis.

21. A timepiece mechanism including at least one indexing element according to claim 1 .

22. A timepiece comprising at least one timepiece mechanism according to claim 20 .

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Saglini Julien

Classifications

• G04B27/005 Primary

  stepwise or on determined values (G04B27/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G04B13/023

  allowing rotational slipping when a threshold torque is exceeded · CPC title

• G04B19/02

  Back-gearing arrangements between gear train and hands {(transmissions in general G04B13/00)} · CPC title

• G04B19/253

  Driving or releasing mechanisms · CPC title

• G04B13/021 Primary

  elastic fitting with a spindle, axis or shaft · CPC title